823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gYYx63D74
So this823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tdGffsWOk
is finally it.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfEqFrfPYw
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U8CBPJZzG
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEBmJ0vAzB
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbua9VCgY5
A man in rags stood in front of the gate. The gate to where it all began and823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ7Wqgyu0R
where it would all end. A thousand steps it took him but he was reluctant to823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJYhXpsuQT
take the last step. After all who'd be willing to walk to their deaths.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP1Gs58xXn
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8C4riB35V
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G1hII1bl0
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYWBnJYPbs
Yet his mind was ready. His body steeled. The man took the hood off his head to823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1HjBFt2ql
reveal an aged face. With many wrinkles and more scars. He took a deep breath.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5wYGw3GYX
Breathing in the fresh mountain air and the bloomed sakura trees. This beauty,823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eFbKQevAt
he wondered if he'd be able to appreciate this picturesque view after...823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWSKceKnGs
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgY5ZIvRBIq
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEaEwsitZC
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVWoGyRNcc
"I have finally come my brothers." Finally he took that last823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvae5FlMtLE
step and knocked, three times. First time, for the beginning, second time, for823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ6NKRyuUA
the journey, third time, for the end. One second, two seconds, three...The gate823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuYbm5mZcI
opened, with a creak echoing through all the mountains.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVsSjNpx33
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN34MHE7UVP
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9PEsCXMPL
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH20Q11Wve0
"Who goes there?" A voice boomed.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIEFgCofeI
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tDix3U3pS
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsAVIw19Hc
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVZ6HdNXQC
"I have come for my rest, as my master before me and his master before823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWGb8RyKbB
him."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbPaAZUOlH
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O6wn9yqrp
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfKTOBtSbd
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbjfXBj24a
"What're you called?" The voice asked once again.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYgjBFfzTi
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Igq8paWfu
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnikfh8Z9O
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbEIfrbVk3
"I am Serene Dancer. 10th Master of the Golden Columns."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnzPaICVh0
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lsgDCHKo8
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0oi3nM3PB
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjiSmB9ZoE
"You may pass."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwgKDJ3ct5
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ875Lku1YK1
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9jNTynN4A
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqELhad87I7
Serene823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZQkutPvBR
Dancer passed the threshold. He knew he could've done so before hand but823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVbHmchK1N
traditions were important. Especially in this sacred place. Tradition...how big823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbYAKDIxSy
part of his life has that been ever since he joined the Golden Columns. 823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF28C8FASve
How it moulded him, made him the man he was today. Should he be proud, or823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvuB0RMjtH
should he be ashamed? He could not truly answer that.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHDy73yA8I
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6oziSBIn0
But the823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStobSbX8sE
being atop the stairs would. The stairs that begun from the gates all the way823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbCD8V0cVJ
up to the Kami Temple. It was truly majestic, Serene Dancer could not help but823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw60x8vNpux
take a few moments to appreciate it. But he knew he could not wait any823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwE80MxOZJ
longer. He had to keep going.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEienhqpbN
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgWEgONfId
First823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZTnQP8C0U
step, ten steps...twenty...Serene Dancer counted each and every last step.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYvzHDDqJY
Taking in every last blade of grass and pebble, until he reached the main823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMkzVK2Wta
temple with their grand doors open.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FrQwLZcdh
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5arwe6gZc7
The first823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQXCqOE9vU
step tentative, each one helped Serene Dancer gather more courage, until he823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQZWkqx5xU
entered the temple itself. Inside the temple was darkness, with a path of823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9wykaOZxg
light leading further in. 823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDFDmsjFxL
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXUVV3KKep
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsIkb6jcJV
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPUU6py7Ch
Serene Dancer was surprised, he was expecting splendour. Beauty to match the823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomS9VyPWjM
outside, but the darkness felt as if it would swallow you whole. It felt as if823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w2QZWgsn3
Serene Dancer would lose his mind inside this darkness and would be forever823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhAltsydiw
trapped.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAFtADdIdQ
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVcq79a4sJ
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80wVDbQqqu
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y89mffEFn
"Calm823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kYJ9dNTgb
mind, calm spirit. The great one shall guide you." His mantra. He kept823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkWS3HSjSg
repeating those words until he had renewed courage to challenge the darkness.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7pAe9PKJ1
The courage did not come But he knew he could not turn back, thus muttering the823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCzdgLxbmz
words under his breath he followed the path of light.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMCQCv90yj
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspG30VwJW9
He walked823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jdK10wPBt
and walked, ten minutes, twenty an hour. "Calm mind, calm spirit..."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ILf6vabfU
The only words echoing in the darkness. As it kept encroaching the path of823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDprjDF5Jb9
light, dwindling it down. 823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB7Oqqu1R0
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIi8KDluk1Z
"Enough."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3URYva7Jn
A voice joined Serene Dancer's prayers as the darkness retreated from the path823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Zq5Q97wQz
and revealed a figure sitting upon a throne, shining so brightly that it overtook823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ4fPwzOtM
the darkness and there was only light.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdWQnLrV65
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCAVvF7rnA
"You823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFJWfCy2WE
have come far, Bongzhon."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HegDiZDIF
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb4NVu0PC8
Serene823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4YYhsj4ib
Dancer wept, for he was so overwhelmed by the sheer presence.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9rDyQLOk3
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX9pPkIdpq
"Come,823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN7erOAE1Y
let us talk." Serene Dancer felt his legs move on their own as he walked823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4VGRPKlkh
closer to God. Upon reaching the light he bent his knees, laying his, bald,823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMqLeG3UTP
head down until his forehead touched the path of light.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXfrXP27uA
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6cQwu4tR9
"You,823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBfshCssb5
as many before you, have come to be judged. Do you swear to accept my823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXMdiv0xz0
judgement, whatever it may be"823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupDg7JFnh8
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHSWYEE1U0
"I823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY8Admcx5r
do so swear." Serene Dancer's voice sounded so tiny, so miniscule in his823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0ylzEKNCx
ears. Especially compared to the voice of god.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpn60cGstA
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSI3SCjIBk
"Very,823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTI1GVKn9A
well. Raise your head." As he did so, God's shape began to change,823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EvmoZIWW3
morphing into something else, something smaller. Until the light stopped fluctuating823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvDSLN7N8f
and a small boy appeared out of the light.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzDeIDtTjs
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacikmWIU5s
"This823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8Kq4QWcZ0
is the past you." Voice still unchanged. "Tell me why did you decide823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp3XAz02Ks
to join your order at such a young age?"823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjff2J2p8BW
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd2C5sNrhC
Serene823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp7QQa0X2A
Dancer sat in silence for a while, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted more823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eRKz32jrf
out of my life. My parents were honest people, but poor. They were not able to823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbLKhsppTH
provide for me and my siblings..."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC5HEdV1iL
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kTvCy499S
"Is823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzvo3zqUz3
that why you abandoned them without saying a word?" Gods words cut through823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNBFgep4bS
Serene Dancer's as if knife cutting butter. "Do you know that they have823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElWQJ9edxi
spent years searching for you? That they blamed themselves for your disappearance?823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HfYa6bdJl
They died, 10 years after you joined the order. Thinking they have failed you,823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgBolwkW71
leaving your siblings on their own. They are all dead now aswell."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjzxwshwOF
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoEmpLSHhf
Serene823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCNFd7I8eB
Dancer sat in contemplation. It was his family, but it has been so long ago823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTasJOfPO3V
since he stopped being Bongzhon that it mattered little to him. The loss of823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyIG0ooszu
life was horrible, but it was all in the past.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TezsHkSx6
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGia0yEqzc
"Do823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmknal6Lzz
you still believe you have made the correct choice? Of abandoning your family823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos7U9MLcrV
leading them to ruin?"823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LdJBOgpvw
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7K5HE3NoBP
"Yes."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgj4yvgTtc
Was the only word Serene Dancer said, for that life would lead to ruin whether823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf1a0r4qrR
he would've stayed or not.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1zgM8Gnxk
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nV0ioKGoE
"Very823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5lJe7fh9v
well." The light changed form again. This time to a grown man. With well823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYr0p11nup
developed muscles and a shaved head. "This is you when you have taken the823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyNrayddvu
mantle of master. Tell me, do you believe you were worthy?"823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvVVke1mKd
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmvK6w8FgI
"I823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiWDHNpEQe
do." For believing otherwise would be dishonouring the choice made by823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj8l8rcTy0
everyone who chose him. The mantle of master is passed on through vote. With823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI1VOZBbYQ
everyone in the order eligible to vote, from the youngest acolyte to the823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7K9HNq6GdA
hardened elder. Serene Dancer would respect their choice.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5rabKipuG
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL7Q8ySuqc
"And823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFclmtF7Gy
what of your choices? Would you do anything else or do you believe you were823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4p4WpZ5VH
perfect in your role?"823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18OsR8HSua
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEZSUwrfIC
"I823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9PFwMbRqP
was not the perfect master, but I would not change any of the choices I823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2erAr2fBN7
made." Before, the answer would've been yes. But not anymore. Did all his823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHgl8vygfn
choices lead to a good conclusion? No. But they were his choices and he would823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi9wjyFnld
stand by them.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLJqwkyYUW
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKm5dovqXc
"Good."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTNPDzpggl
A shift again, and this time Serene Dancer saw an older man. A man with a bent823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lswf37wrj
down posture and beard that only ended at the waist. A man who had both823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO8ivScnMd
wrinkles and scars on his face. A man that was him.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuJRIhrJn0
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoH88H8lFS
"This823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0zQrs0lQm
is you now, with all of your experience and wisdom you have gained. Tell me,823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLuVd0MH1G
why did you decide to rest now?"823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Pqdf3BNS3
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHFGltBQmj
"Because823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgKcm2wqzk
I am tired." Tired of seeing his friends die, tired of seeing people in a823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrZaqSrUyx
cycle of poverty and violence, tired of seeing the young ones deny tradition823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFDk2AL0xz
and stray further away from the righteous path. His time has come to an end.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgzu517vXR
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9svHGp76j2
"Any823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7nEOEspT9
last words before I begin my judgement?"823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3YFlsiAlU
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQRSh2pdVu
"No."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9REqUDkPC
Serene Dancer cleared his mind, it was time to let go. 823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH95y6sMhq
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR6M4Nz0M1
"Bongzhon,823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSElpkhrjl
Serene Dancer, I have judged you worthy of the land of light. Go and find your823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpQYroR1QV
rest."823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyfyAiGhRb
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYWu8tJFCL
The light823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIsi0hbEGS
enveloped Serene Dancer, as he felt it's light touch and warmth. He felt823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMREcJe5YIv
his body slowly disappearing as it joined the light and he felt, for the first823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfCmDiJ2gQ
time in decades, happy and in peace.823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt8AFsixVv
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFQkYyHULW
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3KRkcJwvn
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU5tskTs60
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1PywAa1OE
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vFjXrlepG
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXsvWsyCdz
823Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdEWnfcE0e
